Air cleaning apparatus and health examination system using the same

ABSTRACT

The cleaning filter includes a gas trapping member ( 6 ) and a particle trapping member ( 5 ). The gas trapping member ( 6 ) or the particle trapping member ( 5 ) includes: a trapping material ( 7 ) for trapping a predetermined contaminant in the air; and a trapping material holding member ( 8 ) for holding the trapping material ( 7 ) so as to be opposed to the air flow passage ( 3 ) with an air permeability ensured. The trapping material holding member ( 8 ) is subjected to, when removed from a cleaning apparatus main body ( 2 ), a regeneration process for regenerating trapping performance of the trapping material ( 7 ) for the predetermined contaminant under a state in which the trapping material holding member ( 8 ) holds the trapping material ( 7 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of co-pending application Ser. No.13/505,957 filed on May 3, 2012, which is a National Phase of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP2010/069634 filed on Nov. 4, 2010,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Patent Application No.2009-252542 filed in Japan on Nov. 4, 2009 and Patent Application No.2009-276092 filed in Japan on Dec. 4, 2009. All of the aboveapplications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into thepresent application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cleaning filter to be used in an aircleaning apparatus, and an air cleaning apparatus and air cleaningmaintenance system using the cleaning filter.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as this type of air cleaning apparatus, there has beenknown a technology for facilitating mounting/removal of a filter unitwith respect to a main body of the air cleaning apparatus in order toenable the filter unit to be removed and cleaned (refer to, for example,Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: JP 2006-22977 A (Best Mode for carrying out the Invention, FIG.1)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention provides a cleaning filter, and an air cleaningapparatus and air cleaning maintenance system using the cleaning filter,which are capable of trapping gaseous contaminants (odor/chemicalsubstances) and particulate contaminants (dust, microbial particles,allergenic particles, and the like), and of regenerating or recoveringtrapping performance for predetermined contaminants.

Means for Solving the Problems

First aspect of the invention according to item 1 is a cleaning filter,which is disposed in an air flow passage of a cleaning apparatus mainbody of an air cleaning apparatus, for cleaning an air passing throughthe air flow passage, the cleaning filter including: a gas trappingmember for trapping a gaseous contaminant; and a particle trappingmember for trapping a particulate contaminant, in which at least one ofthe gas trapping member and the particle trapping member comprises: atrapping material for trapping a predetermined contaminant in the air;and a trapping material holding member, which is removably mounted onthe cleaning apparatus main body, for holding the trapping material soas to be opposed to the air flow passage with an air permeabilityensured, and in which the trapping material holding member is subjectedto, when removed from the cleaning apparatus main body, a regenerationprocess for regenerating trapping performance of the trapping materialfor the predetermined contaminant under a state in which the trappingmaterial holding member holds the trapping material.

Second aspect of the invention according to item 2 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 1, in which the trapping material holding member has aheat resistance, and in which the trapping material having a heatresistance is regenerated by the regeneration process including athermal desorption process.

Third aspect of the invention according to item 3 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 1 or 2, in which the trapping material holding memberhas a heat resistance, and in which the trapping material held by thetrapping material holding member is eliminated by the regenerationprocess including a thermal desorption process.

Fourth aspect of the invention according to item 4 is a cleaning filteraccording to any one of items 1 to 3, in which the trapping materialholding member includes: an outer holding frame having an airpermeability; and a plurality of baffle plates contained in the outerholding frame, in which a solid trapping material is filled to bedistributed with an air permeability ensured.

Fifth aspect of the invention according to item 5 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 2 or 3, in which the trapping material holding memberof the particle trapping member comprises a plurality of mesh layerseach having a different air permeability and made of a material having aheat resistance, the plurality of mesh layers holding an additive as thetrapping material.

Sixth aspect of the invention according to item 6 is a cleaning filteraccording to any one of items 1 to 5, in which the trapping materialholding member of the gas trapping member holds the trapping materialfor trapping a predetermined gaseous contaminant, and further holds acatalyst particle capable of decomposing the predetermined gaseouscontaminant, the catalyst particle being provided upstream of thetrapping material in an air flowing direction.

Seventh aspect of the invention according to item 7 is a cleaningfilter, which is disposed in an air flow passage of a cleaning apparatusmain body of an air cleaning apparatus, for cleaning an air passingthrough the air flow passage, the cleaning filter including: a gastrapping member for trapping a gaseous contaminant; and a particletrapping member for trapping a particulate contaminant, in which atleast one of the gas trapping member and the particle trapping memberincludes: a trapping material for trapping a predetermined contaminantin the air; a trapping material holding member for holding the trappingmaterial so as to be opposed to the air flow passage with an airpermeability ensured; and a trapping material supply device forsupplying the trapping material to the trapping material holding memberso as to recover trapping performance of the trapping material for thepredetermined contaminant.

Eighth aspect of the invention according to item 8 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 7, in which the trapping material holding member isremovably mounted on the cleaning apparatus main body, and is subjectedto, when removed from the cleaning apparatus main body, a regenerationprocess for regenerating the trapping performance of the trappingmaterial for the predetermined contaminant under a state in which thetrapping material holding member holds the trapping material.

Ninth aspect of the invention according to item 9 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 7, in which the trapping material holding member has aheat resistance, and is subjected to the regeneration process includinga thermal desorption process.

Tenth aspect of the invention according to item 10 is a cleaning filteraccording to item 7, in which the trapping material supply deviceselectively supplies the trapping material capable of trapping apredetermined contaminant from among the gaseous contaminant and theparticulate contaminant.

Eleventh aspect of the invention according to item 11 is a cleaningfilter according to item 7, in which the trapping material supply devicecomprises a spray tool capable of spraying a liquid trapping material,and in which a spray condition of the spray tool for the liquid trappingmaterial is set so that the liquid trapping material is sprayed in anentire holding region of a predetermined trapping material with respectto the trapping material holding member.

Twelfth aspect of the invention according to item 12 is a cleaningfilter according to item 7, in which the trapping material supply deviceis removably mounted on the trapping material holding member, thetrapping material supply device being mounted on the trapping materialholding member when supplying the trapping material, and being removedfrom the trapping material holding member when not supplying thetrapping material.

Thirteenth aspect of the invention according to item 13 is a cleaningfilter according to item 12, in which the cleaning filter comprises atrapping material holding member having a holding region of the trappingmaterial which is formed into a rectangular shape, and in which thetrapping material supply device includes: a spray tool capable ofspraying a liquid trapping material; and a spray region restrictingmember, which is disposed on the spray tool or in a spray path of theliquid trapping material from the spray tool, for restricting a sprayregion shape of the liquid trapping material into a rectangular shape.

Fourteenth aspect of the invention according to item 14 is a cleaningfilter according to item 12, in which the trapping material supplydevice includes: a spray tool capable of spraying a plurality of kindsof liquid trapping materials; and a trapping material storage containerfor separately storing the plurality of kinds of liquid trappingmaterials.

Fifteenth aspect of the invention according to item 15 is an aircleaning apparatus, including: a cleaning apparatus main body in whichan air flow passage is formed; and the cleaning filter according to anyone of items 1 to 14, the cleaning filter being disposed in the air flowpassage of the cleaning apparatus main body.

Sixteenth aspect of the invention according to item 16 is an aircleaning apparatus, including: a cleaning apparatus main body in whichan air flow passage is formed; and the cleaning filter according to item6, the cleaning filter being disposed in the air flow passage of thecleaning apparatus main body, in which the cleaning filter or thecleaning apparatus main body comprises heating means capable of heatingthe catalyst particle.

Seventeenth aspect of the invention according to item 17 is an aircleaning maintenance system, including: the air cleaning apparatusaccording to item 15 or 16; and a filter regeneration device forregenerating the cleaning filter removed from the air cleaningapparatus, in which the regenerated cleaning filter is reused.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to first aspect of the invention of item 1, gaseouscontaminants and particulate contaminants can be trapped, and trappingperformance for predetermined contaminants can be regenerated.

According to second aspect of the invention of item 2, the trappingmaterial itself can be regenerated by the thermal desorption process asthe regeneration process.

According to third aspect of the invention of item 3, the degradedtrapping material held on the trapping material holding member can beeliminated and the trapping material holding member itself can beregenerated by the thermal desorption process as the regenerationprocess.

According to fourth aspect of the invention of item 4, the solidtrapping material can be held on the trapping material holding memberwithout unevenness. With this, the air-flow resistance can be decreased,and the contact resistance between contaminants and the trappingmaterial can be enhanced.

According to fifth aspect of the invention of item 5, the filtrationaccuracy of particulate contaminants can be adjusted to high level, andthe trapping material can be eliminated and also the trapped particulatecontaminants can be incinerated by the regeneration process includingthe thermal desorption process.

According to sixth aspect of the invention of item 6, by devising theconfiguration of the gas trapping member, gaseous contaminants can beeffectively decomposed, and accordingly the trapping amount ofcontaminants using the trapping material can be decreased to the extentcorresponding to the effective decomposition.

According to seventh aspect of the invention of item 7, gaseouscontaminants and particulate contaminants can be trapped, and thetrapping performance for predetermined contaminants can be recovered.

According to eighth aspect of the invention of item 8, the trappingperformance for predetermined contaminants can be regenerated.

According to ninth aspect of the invention of item 9, the trappingperformance for predetermined contaminants can be regenerated by thethermal desorption process.

According to tenth aspect of the invention of item 10, predeterminedcontaminants can be reliably trapped by the corresponding trappingmaterial.

According to eleventh aspect of the invention of item 11, comparing to amode without the configuration provided in the invention of item 11, theliquid trapping material can be substantially evenly supplied to thetrapping material holding member.

According to twelfth aspect of the invention of item 12, the trappingmaterial can be simply supplied to an existing cleaning filter.

According to thirteenth aspect of the invention of item 13, comparing toa mode without the configuration provided in the invention of item 13,the liquid trapping material can be substantially evenly suppliedwithout waste to the trapping material holding member having the holdingregion of the trapping material which is formed into a rectangularshape.

According to fourteenth aspect of the invention of item 14, a pluralityof kinds of liquid trapping materials can be simply supplied to anexisting cleaning filter.

According to fifteenth aspect of the invention of item 15, there can beeasily configured an air cleaning apparatus which can trap gaseouscontaminants and particulate contaminants, and regenerate or recover thetrapping performance for predetermined contaminants.

According to sixteenth aspect of the invention of item 16, gaseouscontaminants can be more effectively decomposed, and accordingly thetrapping amount of contaminants using the trapping material can bedecreased to the extent corresponding to the effective decomposition.Further, heat from the heating means can be effectively used as aheating source for heating, for example.

According to seventeenth aspect of the invention of item 17, there canbe easily configured an air cleaning maintenance system which can trapgaseous contaminants and particulate contaminants, and regenerate thetrapping performance for predetermined contaminants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of anembodiment of an air cleaning apparatus and an air cleaning maintenancesystem to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1B is anexplanatory diagram illustrating an overview of another embodiment of anair cleaning apparatus and an air cleaning maintenance system to whichthe present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an air cleaningmaintenance system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating an overallconfiguration of an air cleaning apparatus used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a cleaningfilter used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration exampleof a microorganism removal filter which is one of the cleaning filtersused in the first embodiment, FIG. 5B is an explanatory cross-sectionalview of the microorganism removal filter, and FIG. 5C is an explanatorydiagram illustrating another configuration example of the microorganismremoval filter.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configurationof a gas removal filter which is one of the cleaning filters used in thefirst embodiment, FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view of the gasremoval filter, and FIG. 6C is an explanatory diagram illustrating aconfiguration example of a baffle plate of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating details of a thermaldesorption device which is an example of a filter regeneration deviceused in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a relationship between thethermal desorption device illustrated in FIG. 7 and respective filtersto be processed by the thermal desorption device.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are explanatory diagrams respectively illustratingdifferent examples of a contaminant analysis device used in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a filtercleanliness inspection device used in the first embodiment, FIG. 10B isan explanatory graph showing changes over time of contaminantconcentration of a filter to be inspected in an inspection chamber, FIG.10C is an explanatory diagram illustrating a computational expressionfor calculating a generation quantity of contaminants by the filter tobe inspected, and FIG. 10D is an explanatory diagram illustrating atable example for reference values of generation quantities ofpredetermined contaminants.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified mode of thegas removal filter used in the first embodiment, and FIG. 11B is anexplanatory diagram illustrating a function of the gas removal filteraccording to the modified mode.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a modified modeof an additive supply device used in the third embodiment.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams illustrating spray toolsother than a nozzle of the additive supply device used in the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 17B is an explanatory cross-sectional view cut alongthe B-B line in FIG. 17A.

FIG. 18A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 18B is an explanatory diagram illustrating anoverview of a separate-type additive supply device for recoveringperformance of the cleaning filter used in this embodiment.

FIG. 19A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of theseparate-type additive supply device used in the sixth embodiment, andFIG. 19B is an explanatory cross-sectional view cut along the B-B linein FIG. 19A.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a using method of theseparate-type additive supply device used in the sixth embodiment.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are explanatory diagrams illustrating modified modesof the separate-type additive supply device used in the sixthembodiment.

FIG. 22A is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a main part ofan air cleaning apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention, which is used for a toilet unit, and FIG. 22B is anexplanatory side view of the air cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of an aircleaning apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention, which is used for a toilet unit.

FIG. 24A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a selective operationexample of individual cartridges used in the eighth embodiment, and FIG.24B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a switchingselection system for the individual cartridges.

FIG. 25A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of apost-process for a regeneration cartridge used in the eighth embodiment,and FIG. 25B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of apost-process for an individual cartridge used in the eighth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a main part of a mask asan air cleaning apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 27A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration exampleof an inspiration filter used in the mask according to the ninthembodiment, and FIG. 27B is an explanatory diagram illustrating aconfiguration example of an expiration filter used in the mask accordingto the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 28A is a graph showing a removal rate change of formaldehyde as agaseous contaminant when a spray experiment was conducted for a chemicaladsorbent using a cleaning filter according to Example 1, and FIG. 28Bis an explanatory diagram illustrating a computational expression of thecontaminant removal rate of FIG. 28A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Overview of Embodiment

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of anembodiment of an air cleaning apparatus to which the present inventionis applied.

In FIG. 1A, an air cleaning apparatus 1 includes a cleaning apparatusmain body 2 in which an air flow passage 3 is formed, and a cleaningfilter 4 disposed in the air flow passage 3 of this cleaning apparatusmain body 2.

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 4, which is disposed in the airflow passage 3 of the cleaning apparatus main body 2 of the air cleaningapparatus 1, for cleaning an air passing through the air flow passage 3,includes: a gas trapping member 6 for trapping a gaseous contaminant;and a particle trapping member 5 for trapping a particulate contaminant.At least one of the gas trapping member 6 and the particle trappingmember 5 includes: a trapping material 7 for trapping a predeterminedcontaminant in the air; and a trapping material holding member 8, whichis removably mounted on the cleaning apparatus main body 2, for holdingthe trapping material 7 so as to be opposed to the air flow passage 3with an air permeability ensured. The trapping material holding member 8is subjected to, when removed from the cleaning apparatus main body 2, aregeneration process for regenerating trapping performance of thetrapping material 7 for the predetermined contaminant under a state inwhich the trapping material holding member 8 holds the trapping material7.

In such technical means, the gaseous contaminant refers to a gaseousodor substance or a gaseous chemical substance.

As the particulate contaminant, microbial particles and allergenicparticles are mainly considered, but some other substances, such asdust, are also included.

Here, the microbial particles refer to bacteria, fungi, viruses, and thelike, and the allergenic particles refer to pollens, mites and theirfeces, and the like, but a microbial particle may be an allergenicparticle as well.

The cleaning filter 4 is supposed to include both the gas trappingmember 6 and the particle trapping member 5.

The trapping material 7 is not limited to a solid trapping material,such as active carbon, zeolite, a fabric filter, and a metal filter, butmay include various liquid or powder additives.

Here, the additives include chemical adsorbents or impregnation agentsfor removing odor substances or chemical substances, germicide forsterilizing microorganisms, antimicrobial agents or microbiostaticagents for preventing the development, growth, and proliferation ofmicroorganisms, and also agents for inactivating allergens with respectto the allergenic particles.

The trapping material holding member 8 can be a frame-shaped orcontainer-shaped member for holding the solid trapping material 7 andthe like, and can be suitably selected from metallic fibers, non-wovenfabrics, or combinations of metallic fibers and non-woven fabrics, whichare used for impregnating various additives or holding various additivesby impregnation, as long as the trapping material holding member 8 canhold the trapping material 7.

The regeneration process includes a wide variety of processes as long asthe process can regenerate the trapping performance of the trappingmaterial 7, and a thermal desorption process, a solvent cleaning, and asupercritical cleaning can be taken as examples thereof.

Next, the following modes can be provided as the cleaning filter 4 towhich a thermal desorption process is applied as the regenerationprocess.

As an example, there is provided a cleaning filter in which the trappingmaterial holding member 8 has a heat resistance, and in which thetrapping material 7 having a heat resistance is regenerated by theregeneration process including a thermal desorption process. This is amethod of regenerating the trapping material 7 by a thermal desorptionprocess, in which gaseous contaminants trapped in the trapping material7 such as active carbon are desorbed, or microbial particles orallergenic particles trapped in the trapping material 7 such as metalfilter are incinerated.

As another example, there is provided a cleaning filter in which thetrapping material holding member 8 has a heat resistance, and in whichthe trapping material 7 held by the trapping material holding member 8is eliminated by the regeneration process including a thermal desorptionprocess. This is a method of recovering the trapping material holdingmember 8 itself to its cleaned state by eliminating the degradedtrapping material (mainly additives) by a thermal desorption process.

As a representative mode of the trapping material holding member 8,there is provided a trapping material holding member including: an outerholding frame having an air permeability; and a plurality of baffleplates contained in the outer holding frame, in which the solid trappingmaterial 7 is filled to be distributed with an air permeability ensured.This mode is effective for holding the solid trapping material 7. Thebaffle plate used here may be formed so as to have a cross section of,for example, trapezoidal waveform, which is provided with a large numberof holding hole portions of honeycomb structure, or, alternatively, havea sine wave shape or a rectangular wave shape, which is provided withcircular or rectangular holding hole portions.

As another representative mode of the trapping material holding member 8of the particle trapping member 5, there is provided a trapping materialholding member including a plurality of mesh layers each having adifferent air permeability and made of a material having a heatresistance, the plurality of mesh layers holding an additive as thetrapping material 7. This is a particle trapping member which iseffective for a regeneration process including a thermal desorptionprocess. The plurality of mesh layers each having a different airpermeability may be made of metal or non-woven fabrics.

As a preferred mode of the gas trapping member 6, there is provided agas trapping member in which the trapping material holding member holdsthe trapping material 7 for trapping a predetermined gaseouscontaminant, and further holds a catalyst particle capable ofdecomposing the predetermined gaseous contaminant, the catalyst particlebeing provided upstream of the trapping material 7 in an air flowingdirection.

This mode is a method in which gaseous contaminants such as aldehydesare decomposed by catalyst particles (platinum, manganese, and thelike). When gaseous contaminants are decomposed, most of the gaseouscontaminants are decomposed into water and carbon dioxide which areharmless, but other decomposed products may include some harmfulsubstances. Even if decomposed produces include some harmful substances,the harmful substances are trapped by the trapping material 7 positioneddownstream in the air flowing direction so that there is substantiallyno fear of releasing the harmful substances into an indoor space.

In the air cleaning apparatus including such a gas trapping member 6,the cleaning filter 4 or the cleaning apparatus main body 2 preferablyincludes heating means capable heating the catalyst particles.

This is a method in which a mode of holding the catalyst particles inthe cleaning filter 4 is used, and the heating means is disposed on thecleaning filter 4 or the cleaning apparatus main body 2 in the vicinityof the catalyst particles so as to heat the catalyst particles.

In this mode, for many of the catalyst particles, a decompositionreaction efficiently occurs under temperature higher than roomtemperature (for example, 200° C. or higher). Then, when the heatingmeans is disposed on the cleaning filter 4 in the vicinity of thecatalyst particles, the decomposition efficiency of the catalystparticles is increased due to the heat of this heating means. This modeis preferred in that the generated heat can be used as a heating sourcefor heating in the air cleaning apparatus 1.

FIG. 1B illustrates another example of an overview of the embodiment ofthe air cleaning apparatus 1. In FIG. 1B, the air cleaning apparatus 1includes a cleaning filter 4 which is different from that in FIG. 1A.

The cleaning filter 4, which is disposed in the air flow passage 3 ofthe cleaning apparatus main body 2 of the air cleaning apparatus 1, forcleaning an air passing through the air flow passage 3, includes: a gastrapping member 6 for trapping a gaseous contaminant; and a particletrapping member 5 for trapping a particulate contaminant. At least oneof the gas trapping member 6 and the particle trapping member 5includes: a trapping material 7 (for example, 7 a and 7 b) for trappinga predetermined contaminant in the air; a trapping material holdingmember 8 for holding the trapping material so as to be opposed to theair flow passage with an air permeability ensured; and a trappingmaterial supply device 10 (for example, 10 a and 10 b) for supplying thetrapping material 7 to the trapping material holding member 8 so as torecover trapping performance of the trapping material 7 for thepredetermined contaminant.

In this mode, the cleaning filter 4 includes a cleaning filter which isnot subjected to the regeneration process.

The supply timing of the trapping material 7 is often periodic, but canbe aperiodic without any problems.

In this embodiment, as a representative mode of the trapping materialholding member 8, there is provided a trapping material holding member,which is removably mounted on the cleaning apparatus main body 2, and issubjected to, when removed from the cleaning apparatus main body 2, aregeneration process for regenerating the trapping performance of thetrapping material 7 for the predetermined contaminant under a state inwhich the trapping material holding member holds the trapping material7. This mode is preferred in that the lifetime of the cleaning filter 4is further extended by the regeneration process.

In particular, as a mode in which the regeneration process including thethermal desorption process is performed, it is only necessary that thetrapping material holding member 8 have a heat resistance, and besubjected to the regeneration process including a thermal desorptionprocess.

As a representative mode of the trapping material supply device 10, itis only necessary to selectively supply the trapping material 7 capableof trapping a predetermined contaminant from among the gaseouscontaminant and the particulate contaminant.

Here, the word “selectively” not only means individually supplyingtrapping materials for corresponding contaminants, respectively, butalso means supplying mixed trapping materials which are selectedcorresponding to a plurality of predetermined contaminants.

For example, when the description is made by taking the mode illustratedin FIG. 1B as an example, in order to trap a specific particulatecontaminant by the particle trapping member 5, it is only necessary toselectively supply the trapping material 7 (for example, 7 a), which cantrap the specific particulate contaminant, to the trapping materialholding member 8 of the particle trapping member 5. Moreover, in orderto trap a specific gaseous contaminant by the gas trapping member 6, itis only necessary to selectively supply the trapping material 7 (forexample, 7 b), which can trap the specific gaseous contaminant, to thegas trapping member 6. In this case, as a configuration of the gastrapping member 6, the trapping material holding member 8 may holdanother trapping material 7 (for example, 7 c: active carbon and thelike) different from the trapping material 7 (for example, 7 b) suppliedfrom the trapping material supply device 10 (for example, 10 b).

As a preferred mode of the trapping material supply device 10, there isprovided a trapping material supply device including a spray toolcapable of spraying a liquid trapping material 7. In this mode, a spraycondition of the spray tool for the liquid trapping material 7 is set sothat the liquid trapping material 7 is sprayed in an entire holdingregion of a predetermined trapping material 7 with respect to thetrapping material holding member 8.

Here, as the spray tool, other than a spray nozzle, a vaporizer and thelike may be suitably selected.

The spray condition for the trapping material 7 only needs to be set sothat the trapping material 7 can be sprayed in the entire holding regionof the predetermined trapping material 7 with respect to the trappingmaterial holding member 8. For example, the air flow flowing in the airflow passage 3 may be temporarily stopped during spraying, thenozzle-like spray tool may be swung during spraying, or the trappingmaterial 7 may be sprayed toward the air flow flowing in the air flowpassage 3 so as to be dispersed with the air flow. These conditions canbe suitably selected without any troubles.

Moreover, as the cleaning filter 4, the present invention is not limitedto the mode in which the trapping material supply device 10 is equippedall the time, and the trapping material supply device 10 may beconfigured to be removable when the cleaning filter 4 is used. As arepresentative mode of the trapping material supply device 10 for such aseparate-type cleaning filter 4, there is provided a trapping materialsupply device, which is removably mounted on the trapping materialholding member 8, the trapping material supply device being mounted onthe trapping material holding member 8 when supplying the trappingmaterial 7, and being removed from the trapping material holding member8 when not supplying the trapping material 7.

Here, as a representative mode of the separate-type cleaning filter 4,there is provided a cleaning filter 4 including a trapping materialholding member 8 having a holding region of the trapping material 7which is formed into a rectangular shape. In this mode, the trappingmaterial supply device 10 includes: a spray tool capable of spraying aliquid trapping material 7; and a spray region restricting member, whichis disposed on the spray tool or in a spray path of the liquid trappingmaterial 7 from the spray tool, for restricting a spray region shape ofthe liquid trapping material 7 into a rectangular shape.

In this mode, by restricting the spray region shape of the liquidtrapping material 7 into a rectangular shape, the trapping material 7can be sprayed on the trapping material holding member 8 having theholding region of the holding material 7 which is formed into arectangular shape, in accordance with the holding region of the trappingmaterial 7.

In view of effectively using the trapping material 7 without waste, thespray region restricting member disposed in the spray path of thetrapping material 7 is preferably disposed in close contact with thetrapping material holding member 8, and the trapping material 7, whichis not held by the trapping material holding member 8, is preferablyreused.

As another representative mode of the separate-type cleaning filter 4,there is provided a cleaning filter in which the trapping materialsupply device 10 includes: a spray tool capable of spraying a pluralityof kinds of liquid trapping materials 7; and a trapping material storagecontainer for separately storing the plurality of kinds of liquidtrapping materials 7.

In the mode in which the cleaning filter 4 of the air cleaning apparatus1 is subjected to the regeneration process, the following air cleaningmaintenance system can be built.

The air cleaning maintenance system includes: the above-mentioned aircleaning apparatus 1; and a filter regeneration device 15 forregenerating the cleaning filter 4 removed from the air cleaningapparatus 1. The regenerated cleaning filter 4 is reused.

Here, the filter regeneration device 15 widely includes, other than athermal desorption device, a chemical cleaning device, a supercriticalcleaning device, and the like, as long as the device can regenerate thecontaminant trapping performance of the cleaning filter 4.

The present invention is described below in more detail based onembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment —Overall Configuration of Air Cleaning MaintenanceSystem—

FIG. 2 illustrates an overall configuration of a first embodiment of anair cleaning maintenance system to which the present invention isapplied.

In FIG. 2, the air cleaning maintenance system includes an air cleaningapparatus 20 disposed in an indoor space R where a person M lives, and afilter regeneration device 110 for regenerating a cleaning filter 40,which is a component of this air cleaning apparatus 20, temporarilycollected by a filter collecting person 100.

—Overview of Air Cleaning Apparatus—

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the air cleaning apparatus20 includes an air duct 21 as a cleaning apparatus main body in which anair flow passage 22 is defined to be formed. This air flow passage 22includes on its inlet opening 23 side an intake fan 30 for suctioningair, and includes the cleaning filter 40 on the side downstream of thisintake fan 30 in the air flowing direction.

Note that, in this embodiment, the intake fan 30 is disposed in the airduct 21, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A separateventilation unit may be disposed on the exit side of the air duct 21 sothat air is suctioned by this ventilation unit into the air flow passage22 of the air duct 21.

—Cleaning Filter—

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning filter40 is configured by disposing a pre-filter 41, a microorganism removalfilter 42, a medium efficiency filter 43, a gas removal filter 44, and ahigh efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter) 45, in this order,from the inlet opening 23 side to an outlet opening 24 side in the airflow passage 22 of the air duct 21.

In this embodiment, the respective filters 41 to 45 are removablymounted in the air duct 21 as the cleaning apparatus main body.

(1) Pre-Filter 41

This is a coarse mesh filter for trapping mainly coarse dust and thelike, and is configured by forming metal mesh, metal fibers, carbonfibers, or the like, into a non-woven fabric.

(2) Microorganism Removal Filter 42

This filter is intended to trap mainly microbial particles, such asbacteria, fungi, and virus, but can trap allergenic particles, such aspollens, and mites and their feces, which are similar to microbialparticles.

In this embodiment, a thermal desorption process is performed as anexample of the regeneration process by the filter regeneration device110. Therefore, in order to heat the trapped microbial particles andallergenic particles and incinerate the trapped microbial particles andallergenic particles, the configuration requires heat resistance.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate configuration examples.

In the mode illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the microorganism removalfilter 42 is configured as a regeneration cartridge which can beregenerated by a thermal desorption process as a regeneration process,and is made of a plurality of mesh layers (42 a to 42 e) of metal masheshaving different air permeabilities, which are laminated in a multistagestate. Here, a rigid supporting layer is formed by the coarse meshlayers 42 d, 42 e. The mesh layer 42 a on the surface side is formed asa protective layer, and the fine mesh layers 42 b, 42 c are formedbetween the protective layer 42 a and the supporting layers 42 d, 42 eas a filter layer through which microorganisms are hard to pass.

In the mode illustrated in FIG. 5C, the microorganism removal filter 42is made of a plurality of mesh layers (42 a, 42 f, 42 g, 42 d) havingdifferent air permeabilities, which are laminated in a multistage state.A rigid supporting layer is formed by the mesh layer 42 d made of acoarse metal mesh. A protective layer is formed of the mesh layer 42 aof a metal mesh on the surface side, and the fine mesh layers 42 f, 42 gare formed between the protective layer 42 a and the supporting layer 42d by combining a metal mesh and a non-woven fabric as a filter layerthrough which microorganisms are hard to pass.

Note that, it is understood that the filter having heat resistance maybe obtained by forming metal fibers or carbon fibers into a non-wovenfabric.

(3) Medium Efficiency Filter 43

This is a mesh filter which is finer than the pre-filter 41, and isintended to trap mainly medium size dust and the like. This filter isconfigured by forming, for example, metal mesh, metal fibers, or carbonfibers into a non-woven fabric.

(4) Gas Removal Filter 44

This is a filter for removing gaseous contaminants of odor/chemicalsubstances. As illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, this filter has aregeneration cartridge configuration which is available for a thermaldesorption process as an example of the regeneration process performedby the filter regeneration device 110 (refer to FIG. 2).

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the gas removal filter 44 includes a box-like outerholding frame 51 made of heat resistant metal, such as stainless steel.This outer holding frame 51 is configured by a pair of dividable holdingframe members 51 a, 51 b having U-shaped cross sections. The top portionof each of the holding frame members 51 a, 51 b is provided with anopening as an air passage, and a metal mesh 52 is disposed at thisopening. The circumference wall of each of the holding frame members 51a, 51 b is provided with a suitable number of fixing holes 53, and boththe holding frame members 51 a, 51 b are fixed by fixing tools 54, suchas screws.

As illustrated in FIG. 6B, a plurality of baffle plates 55 are arrangedin this outer holding frame 51 so that a large number of holding holeportions 56 are formed between the baffle plates 55.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, for example, the baffleplates 55 are formed by molding heat resistant metal, for example, astainless steel plate member, so that trapezoidal cross-sectionalportions 55 a, 55 b are continuously arranged in a waveform. Theplurality of baffle plates 55 are arranged so as to ensure the holdinghole portions 56 having a honeycomb structure.

The baffle plates 55 have a width size substantially corresponding tothe thickness size of the outer holding frame 51, and are arranged sothat the above-mentioned holding hole portions 56 penetrate between themetal meshes 52 of the outer holding frame 51.

An adsorbent 57 for adsorbing odor substances and the like, such asactive carbon, zeolite, and ceramics, is contained to be held in theholding hole portions 56 defined by the plurality of baffle plates 55.

Such an adsorbent 57 is filled to be distributed in the holding holeportions 56 defined by the baffle plates 55 so that even when the gasremoval filter 44 is arranged in the vertical direction, the adsorbent57 is not unevenly disposed in the outer holding frame 51.

Moreover, in this embodiment, a portion of the opening edge portion ofthe outer holding frame 51 of the gas removal filter 44 is provided withan owner indication portion 59 on which an owner number (a numberindicating an owner of the gas removal filter 44) is impressed.

(5) HEPA Filter 45

This is a mesh filter which is further finer than the medium efficiencyfilter 43, and is intended to trap fine powders of the active carbonused in the gas removal filter 44, or the like. This filter isconfigured by forming, for example, metal mesh, metal fibers, or carbonfibers, into a non-woven fabric.

—Additive Supply Device—

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 is provided with an additivesupply device 70 which can supply additives corresponding to, forexample, microbial particles and gaseous contaminants, such as volatileorganic compounds (VOCs), which are intended to be removed by themicroorganism removal filter 42 and the gas removal filter 44.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, this additive supply device 70 includesadditives corresponding to the removal of odor substances and chemicalsubstances (for example, an additive Sa corresponding to ammonia, anadditive Sm corresponding to methyl mercaptan, or a mixed additive Sxcorresponding to a plurality of odor/chemical substances including theabove-mentioned substances), and an additive Sw corresponding to theremoval of microorganisms (for example, germicides corresponding to thesterilization of microorganisms, or antimicrobial agents correspondingto the prevention of proliferation of microorganisms).

For example, these additives are individually contained in correspondingadditive bottles 71, 72, and are suctioned in a given quantity from therespective additive bottles 71, 72 by a pump (not shown) so as to beperiodically sprayed.

In FIG. 3, an additive supply device 70 a is a component for supplying,for example, the additive Sw corresponding to the removal ofmicroorganisms, and an additive supply device 70 b is a component forsupplying, for example, the additive Sx.

A control device 80 is configured to control opening and closing ofrespective on-off valves 73, 74 so that the additive Sw in the additivesupply device 70 a is periodically supplied in a given quantity to themicroorganism removal filter 42 in accordance with opening and closingof the on-off valve 73, and the additive Sx in the additive supplydevice 70 b is periodically supplied in a given quantity to the gasremoval filter 44 in accordance with opening and closing of the on-offvalve 74. It is understood that the opening and closing control of theon-off valves 73, 74 may be performed by simply opening and closing theon-off valves 73, 74, or by adjusting the opening degrees of the on-offvalves 73, 74.

—Function of Cleaning Filter—

As illustrated in FIG. 4, for example, assuming that there exist dust A,pollen B, fungi C, bacteria D, virus E, chemical substances F, and odorsubstances G, as contaminants in the air, the dust A is trapped bymainly the pre-filter 41, the medium efficiency filter 43, and the HEPAfilter 45, the fungi C, the bacteria D, and the virus E, are trapped bymainly the microorganism removal filter 42, and the chemical substancesF and the odor substances G are trapped by mainly the gas removal filter44. The pollen B is trapped by the microorganism removal filter 42 andthe medium efficiency filter 43.

At this time, in this embodiment, the corresponding additives S areperiodically sprayed on the microorganism removal filter 42 and the gasremoval filter 44, and hence the removal performances for odorsubstances, chemical substances, and microorganisms are periodicallyrecovered.

In this embodiment, the additives S are sprayed on the microorganismremoval filter 42 and the gas removal filter 44, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto. The additives S may be sprayed on thedust removal filters, such as the medium efficiency filter 43, asneeded.

In this embodiment, the filters can be configured depending on thecontamination state of the space where the air cleaning apparatus 20 isinstalled. That is, conventional gas or dust removal filters are appliedwith impregnation agents which are effective for general contaminants,on the assumption of a general contamination state.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, additives can be selecteddepending on the types and physical/chemical properties of contaminantsin the air cleaning apparatus installation room.

For example, when the main contaminants in the space are fungi (mold)and bacteria, germicide, antimicrobial agents, and microbiostaticagents, which are effective for the species, only need to be sprayed onthe microorganism removal filter 42 and the dust removal filters, suchas the medium efficiency filter 43. When the main contaminants in thespace are ammonia, the additive Sa corresponding to ammonia only needsto be sprayed. Moreover, when a plurality of contaminants need to beremoved from the space, such as formaldehyde, methyl mercaptan, andhydrogen sulfide, the additives Sf, Sm, Ss corresponding to therespective contaminants only need to be supplied from the respectiveadditive bottles, or supplied in a mixed state.

Note that, when many allergenic particles, such as pollens, exist in thespace, agents for inactivating the allergenic particles only need to besupplied as additives to, for example, the microorganism removal filter42. When many odor substances, such as tobacco smell, roast smell, andpet smell, exist in the space, additives corresponding to the odorsubstances only need to be supplied.

In this embodiment, the additives such as germicide, antimicrobialagents, and microbiostatic agents are sprayed on and impregnated intothe microorganism removal filter 42. Therefore, the microorganismremoval filter 42 is preferred not to be deteriorated by the additives,and the additives are preferably hard to be volatilized by the air flowof the intake fan 30. Even if the additives are volatilized andconveyed, because the gas removal filter 44 is disposed on thedownstream side of the air flow passage 22, the additives areeffectively prevented from unnecessarily diffusing into the room.

—Filter Regeneration Device—

In this embodiment, additives are periodically supplied to themicroorganism removal filter 42 and the gas removal filter 44, but, whenthese filters have been used over a long period of time, the totalamount of additives may become excessive so as to cause negative effectson the regeneration of performance.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the filtercollecting person 100 temporarily collects the corresponding filters,and these filters are processed by the filter regeneration device 110 soas to be regenerated.

Here, as the filter regeneration device 110, there are provided athermal desorption device 111 and a chemical cleaning device 112, forexample.

(1) Thermal Desorption Device 111

This device is configured to apply a thermal desorption process to themicroorganism removal filter 42 and the gas removal filter 44 becausethese filters are configured as regeneration cartridges.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermaldesorption device 111 includes a heat-resistant casing 120 formed of aplurality of divided heat-resistant chambers 121, 122. A filtercontaining portion 123 (specifically, a portion 131 corresponding to themicroorganism removal filter 42 and a portion 132 corresponding to thegas removal filter 44) is disposed at one heat-resistant chamber 121 ofthis heat-resistant casing 120. This filter containing portion 123 isprovided with an exhaust port 125. The portion corresponding to thefilter containing portion 123 is provided with heaters 126, 127, and theabove-mentioned heaters 126, 127 are heated by a temperature controller128 to a predetermined temperature (for example, about 200° C. to 500°C.).

Reference symbol 124 represents a heat-resistant connection duct; 129, afilter holding wall of the filter containing portion 123; and 133, 134,maintenance ports for visually inspecting the inside of the filtercontaining portions 123 when the respective microorganism removal filter42 and gas removal filter 44 are contained therein.

In this embodiment, the contaminants collected in the microorganismremoval filter 42 are incinerated, and the added additives are desorbedto be removed. As a result, the microorganism removal filter 42 isregenerated into a cleaned state.

Moreover, the contaminants trapped by the adsorbent 57 of the gasremoval filter 44 and the additives are desorbed to be removed. As aresult, the adsorption performance of the adsorbent 57 is regenerated.

In particular, in this embodiment, the heating temperatures of theheaters 126, 127 are set to about 300° C. to 350° C. so that themicroorganism removal filter 42 and the gas removal filter 44 areeffectively regenerated.

(2) Chemical Cleaning Device 112

In this embodiment, the chemical cleaning device 112 can clean dirtydust removal filters, such as the medium efficiency filter 43, bypredetermined chemicals.

—Contaminant Analysis Device 160—

In this embodiment, when performing the regeneration process by thethermal desorption device 111 or the chemical cleaning device 112, thecontaminants removed from the respective filters 42, 44 can be analyzedso that the state of contaminants in the space where the collectedcleaning filter 40 is installed can be analyzed.

In this case, as the contaminant analysis device 160 (refer to FIG. 2),there is employed a gas chromatograph, a gas chromatograph massspectrometer, a high performance liquid chromatograph, an ionchromatograph, or the like, and a gas collected by a collecting memberis to be analyzed.

Further, as the collecting member, for example, as illustrated in FIG.9A, there are used an HCHO collecting tube 165 for collecting HCHO fromamong the VOCs, and a collecting tube 166 for collecting VOCs other thanHCHO. In this embodiment, as the HCHO collecting tube 165, there is usedan HCHO collecting tube that employs 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)as a collecting agent, and further, as the collecting tube 166 forcollecting other VOCs, a carbon-based collecting agent or Tenax TA isused.

Further, the contaminant analysis device 160 sends the VOCs collected bythe collecting tubes 165, 166 to flow meters 173, 174 and gas meters175, 176 via pumps 171, 172, respectively, to thereby perform aqualitative analysis and a quantitative analysis on the VOCs.

Note that, as another mode of the collecting member, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 9B, a collecting tube 167 formed of an impinger maybe used, for example, so that the collected VOCs are sent to a gas meter178 via a pump 177 to perform a qualitative analysis.

—Filter Cleanliness Inspection Device—

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 regenerated by the filterregeneration device 110 can be inspected for the cleanliness of thecleaning filter 40 by a filter cleanliness inspection device 200 (referto FIG. 2).

In FIG. 10A, the filter cleanliness inspection device 200 includes aninspection chamber 201, a holding mechanism (not shown), a fan unit 210,and a detector 220. The inspection chamber 201 is configured so thatcleaned air is supplied via a supply port 202 and exhausted via anexhaust port 203, and also diffused by a diffusing fan 205. The holdingmechanism (not shown) is disposed in this inspection chamber 201 so asto releasably hold the gas removal filter 44 (42) as a component of thecleaning filter 40 to be inspected. The fan unit 210 is configured tocause the air in the inspection chamber 201 to pass through the filter44 (42) held by the holding mechanism. The detector 220 is disposeddownstream of the air flow generated by the fan unit 210 and passingthrough the filter 44 (42), and is configured to detect contaminantswhich affect the cleanliness of the filter 44 (42).

In this embodiment, the cleanliness of the filter 44 (42) can bedetermined based on the output from the detector 220 in a short time.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10B, the concentration of contaminants in theinspection chamber 201 changes with the lapse of time.

At this time, the generation quantity of contaminants can be obtainedbased on the computational expression illustrated in FIG. 10C.

The parameters in FIG. 10C are as follows.

m=Q+αR

α: adsorption rate of the subject contaminant to the inspection chamber(l/h)

R: chamber air volume (m³)

Q: chamber ventilation quantity (m³/h)

C: concentration of the subject contaminant in the chamber at a givenarbitrary time t (μg/m³)

t: time

C₀: concentration of the subject contaminant in the chamber supply air

C₁: concentration of the subject contaminant in the chamber whenstarting the experiment

M: contaminant generation quantity (μg/h)

Based on the relationship between the value calculated as describedabove and the generation quantity reference values shown in FIG. 10D,the level of the contaminant generation quantity M of the filter to beinspected can be determined.

As a result, the contaminant generation quantity M equal to or smallerthan the permissible value is determined to be “OK”, and the contaminantgeneration quantity M exceeding the permissible value is determined tobe “NG”.

In the case of “OK”, the cleanliness of the subject filter is determinedto be sufficient, and the filter is delivered to the user with noprocess subjected thereto. On the other hand, in the case of “NG”, thecleanliness of the subject filter is determined to be insufficient, andit is only necessary that the regeneration process be performed again bythe filter regeneration device 110 and then the filter cleanlinessinspection be performed again.

Modified Mode

FIGS. 11 illustrate a modified mode of the gas removal filter 44 used inthe first embodiment.

In FIG. 11A, the gas removal filter 44 holds the adsorbent 57, such asactive carbon, in the outer holding frame 51, and also holds catalystparticles 60, which can decompose gaseous contaminants, on the upstreamside of the adsorbent 57 in the air flowing direction. Reference symbol58 represents a partition plate which partitions the space in the outerholding frame 51 with the air permeability ensured.

In this mode, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, the catalyst particles 60(platinum, manganese, or the like) in Region I decompose gaseouscontaminants G_(A), such as aldehydes, so that most of the gaseouscontaminants G_(A) react into harmless water G_(B) and carbon dioxideG_(C), but decomposed products G_(D) other than the above may includesome harmful substances. Even if some harmful substances are included inthe decomposed products G_(D), such harmful substances are trapped bythe adsorbent 57 in Region II positioned on the downstream side in theair flowing direction so that there is substantially no fear ofreleasing the harmful substances into an indoor space.

In this embodiment, a heater 61 is disposed in the outer holding frame51 of the gas removal filter 44 (refer to FIG. 11A), and this heater 61is configured to be heated by a heating power source 62 to, for example,200° C. or higher.

In this mode, many of the catalyst particles 60 cause a decompositionreaction efficiently under temperature higher than normal temperature(for example, 200° C. or higher). Accordingly, the decompositionefficiency of the catalyst particles 60 is increased by the heat fromthe heater 61. At this time, the generated heat is used as a heatingsource when heating as the air cleaning apparatus 20.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 12 illustrates a main part of a cleaning filter 40 of an aircleaning apparatus according to a second embodiment the presentinvention.

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 includes a filter elementsubstantially similar to that of the first embodiment, and is configuredso that, for example, an additive supply device 70 is disposed adjacentto the gas removal filter 44.

In this embodiment, the additive supply device 70 includes an additivesupply tank 701 which stores an additive S for removing odor substancesand chemical substances. At the upper portion of the gas removal filter44, a uniform distribution nozzle 702 is disposed by substantiallyevenly arranging a plurality of nozzle portions along the lengthdirection of the upper edge of the gas removal filter 44. Theabove-mentioned additive supply tank 701 and uniform distribution nozzle702 are connected to communicate to each other via a supply tube 703. Inthe middle of this supply tube 703, a pump 704 and a flow rate adjustingvalve 705 are interposed. Note that, as the additive S in thisembodiment, when the subject contaminant is formaldehyde, for example, aformaldehyde catching agent is used, and when the subject contaminant isa mixed gas of formaldehyde and VOC, a graft polymerization agent isused. In FIG. 12, reference symbol 706 represents a supply port of theadditive supply tank 701, and reference symbol 707 represents a draintube thereof.

Moreover, in this embodiment, there are provided in the gas removalfilter 44 a suitable number of concentration sensors 710 for detectingthe concentration of the impregnated additive S. The information fromthe concentration sensors 710 is input into a flow rate control device711. This flow rate control device 711 controls the injection quantityof a chemical solution (additive) by adjusting the opening degree of theflow rate adjusting valve 705. The flow rate control device 711 isoperated based on the sensor outputs from the above-mentionedconcentration sensors 710 as feedback signals, and has a concentrationadjusting mode for controlling the injection quantity of the chemicalsolution so as to maintain, at a fixed value, the chemical solutionconcentration at the filter substrate of the gas removal filter 44.

Moreover, in this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned mode,the flow rate control device 711 has a periodical supply mode forsupplying a chemical solution every fixed period using a timer.

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 further includes a draindevice 712 capable of draining liquid waste of the additive S. Thisdrain device 712 is configured by disposing a drain tank 713 below thegas removal filter 44, and connecting the drain tank 713 to the gasremoval filter 44 via a drain tube 714 to communicate to each other, tothereby drain excess additives S to the drain tank 713.

In this embodiment, a filter heating device 715 is disposed on theventilation surface of the gas removal filter 44. This filter heatingdevice 715 is formed by, for example, heating wires arranged in acrossing state in the substantially entire ventilation surface of thegas removal filter 44. For example, the filter heating device 715 isperiodically heated based on a control signal from a heating controldevice 716 so that additive reaction products accumulated in the filtersubstrate of the gas removal filter 44 are periodically removed. In thiscase, in order not to contaminate the room by the removed additivereaction products, for example, a physical adsorbent, such as activecarbon, may be disposed, or the removed additive reaction products maybe released via an exhaust duct (not shown) to the outside. Note that,instead of the filter heating device 715, a method of chemicallyprocessing predetermined reaction products may be suitably adopted.

Therefore, according to the air cleaning apparatus of this embodiment,contaminated air to be cleaned is taken in the air flow passage by anintake fan (not shown). At this time, large particles among theparticles, such as dust, in the air to be cleaned are removed by thepre-filter (not shown). Next, fine particles, which have passed throughthe pre-filter, are removed by the microorganism removal filter and themedium efficiency filter. Further, gaseous chemical substances, such asformaldehyde, are removed by the gas removal filter 44. Finally,products from the gas removal filter 44 or the like are removed by theHEPA filter.

Particularly, according to the cleaning filter 40 of this embodiment,the liquid additive (liquid agent) S is replenished and supplied to thefilter substrate of the gas removal filter 44 as needed, and issubstantially uniformly distributed by the uniform distribution nozzle702. Accordingly, the filter substrate of the gas removal filter 44 ismaintained in a state in which the impregnation degree of the liquidagent S is substantially uniform over a long period of time. Thus, thegas removal performance of the gas removal filter 44 is stablymaintained over a long period of time. At this time, the liquid agent Sdoes not need to be constantly supplied to the gas removal filter 44,and hence there is no fear that the liquid agent S is consumed in anunnecessary manner.

Note that, in this embodiment, the concentration sensors 710 aredisposed in the middle of the gas removal filter 44 so as to detect theconcentration of the liquid additive (liquid agent) S impregnated in thefilter substrate of the gas removal filter 44. However, an impregnationsensor may be disposed in the vicinity of the lower end portion of thefilter substrate of the gas removal filter 44. With this, theimpregnation state of the liquid agent S in the filter substrate isdetected based on a signal from the impregnation sensor, and the flowrate adjusting valve 705 is controlled in accordance with the signalfrom the impregnation sensor. Moreover, in this embodiment, the gasremoval filter 44 includes a single row of the filter substrate, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality ofrows of filter substrates may be used so as to enlarge the area of thefilter substrates with which the ventilation comes into contact.Alternatively, the filter substrate may be provided with a bellows-likefolded portion so as to enlarge the substantial area of the filtersubstrate with which the ventilation comes into contact.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 13 illustrates a main part of a clean filter 40 of an air cleaningapparatus according to a third embodiment the present invention.

In FIG. 13, the cleaning filter 40 includes, for example, a non-wovenfabric 46 is disposed upstream of, for example, the microorganismremoval filter 42 (or the medium efficiency filter 43) in the airflowing direction. The additive supply device 70, which can supply, forexample, the additive (liquid agent) Sk including an antimicrobialagent, may periodically spray a fixed amount of the additive Sk to theabove-mentioned non-woven fabric 46 via a spray nozzle 75.

Note that, the components similar to those of the first embodiment arerepresented by the same reference symbols as those of the firstembodiment, and their details are not described here.

According to this embodiment, when an antimicrobial agent correspondingto a virus, such as an influenza virus, is supplied as the additive Sk,infection by the virus can be effectively prevented.

In this embodiment, the non-woven fabric 46 is separately disposed, butthe additive can be directly sprayed on the microorganism removal filter42 (or the medium efficiency filter 43).

In this embodiment, the additive (liquid agent) S needs to be sprayeduniformly in the entire filter surface of the cleaning filter 40. Atthis time, in the mode in which the spray angle of the additive Sk isfixedly set at the spray nozzle 75, the spray range of the additive Skmay be restricted by the air flow generated by the intake fan 30 of theair cleaning apparatus.

Therefore, this embodiment adopts a method in which the opening andclosing operations of the on-off valve 73 and the operation of theintake fan 30 are performed in association by the control device 80, andfor example, when the additive Sk is being sprayed by the spray nozzle75, the intake fan 30 is temporarily stopped.

The spray operation of the additive Sk by this spray nozzle 75 is notlimited to the above-mentioned method, and can be suitably selected fromamong the following methods. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14A,while swinging the spray nozzle 75 by a swinging mechanism 76, theadditive Sk is sprayed in a wide range. Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG. 14B, the liquid additive Sk is sprayed from the spray nozzle 75against the air flow generated by the intake fan 30 so that the additiveSk is dispersed by a collision between the air flow and the sprayedadditive Sk.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the additive supply device 70 adopts thespray nozzle 75 as a spray tool, but the present invention is notlimited thereto as long as the spray tool is capable of spraying theliquid additive Sk. There can be adopted, for example, a mode using anultrasonic atomization method, a mode using a thermal vaporizationmethod, or a mode using a rotary atomization method.

For example, as the mode using an ultrasonic atomization method, asillustrated in FIG. 15A, the following mode can be provided. A pair ofsurface acoustic wave (SAW) elements 721, 722 is disposed so that thesurfaces thereof, on which interdigital transducers (IDT) 723, 724 ofthe respective SAW elements 721, 722 are disposed, are opposed to eachother. For example, the liquid additive Sk is supplied into a flowpassage 726 between the SAW elements 721, 722 via a through hole 725 ofone SAW element 721, and ultrasonic waves are radiated from the SAWelements 721, 722 into the additive S so that the liquid additive Sk isemitted in a spray state.

As the mode using a thermal vaporization method, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 15B, a supporting table 731 is disposed in avaporization chamber 730, and a vaporization plate 732 is disposed onthis supporting table 731. Further, for example, a planar heater 733 isdisposed in the supporting table 731 directly below the vaporizationplate 732, and a temperature sensor 734 for detecting the temperature ofthe vaporization plate 732 is disposed. In this mode, the control device80 controls heating of the planar heater 733 based on the temperatureinformation from the temperature sensor 734.

Here, the vaporization plate 732 is made of a corrosion-resistantmaterial having a high thermal conductivity (for example, stainlesssteel or various types of ceramics including glass). The control device80 is configured to variably set the target temperature of the planarheater 733 in accordance with the kind of the liquid additive Sk to bedripped. The target temperature of the heater 733 is set to atemperature at which the temperature of the vaporization plate 732heated by the planar heater 733 becomes equal to or higher than thevaporization temperature of the liquid additive Sk to be dripped.

In this mode, the vaporized additive Sk is sprayed on the filter surfaceof the cleaning filter 40 through an opening 735 of the vaporizationchamber 730.

Note that, the vaporization plate 732 is, for example, fixedly disposedon the supporting table 731, but the configuration of the vaporizationplate 732 is not limited thereto. The supporting table 731 may beprovided with a movable table so as to be vibrated, thereby furtherpromoting the vaporization of the additive Sk.

Allergenic particles floating in the air, such as mite and mold, causerhinitis, asthma, and the like, and are contaminants which need to beremoved. Allergenic particles are made of protein, and there is anantibody which binds to only a certain protein among innumerableproteins. With use of such property of the antibody, an immunologicalmeasuring method using the antibody which recognizes a specificallergenic particle, a so-called enzyme-linked immunorsorbent assay(ELISA) method, has already been practically applied.

With use of this idea, for example, when the air cleaning apparatusemploys the cleaning filter 40 including the microorganism removalfilter 42 impregnated with a certain antibody, a specific protein, thatis, an allergenic particle, can be effectively and selectively trapped.Moreover, when this property is used as an allergenic particle sensor,the allergenic particle concentration in the indoor air can bemonitored.

Specifically, when a given quantity of an antibody is applied to themicroorganism removal filter 42 formed of a non-woven fabric or thelike, the particle removal ability of the microorganism removal filter42 and the protein binding ability of the antibody are coupled, therebyefficiently removing mites and their feces in the indoor air. That is,through application of a certain type of antibody to the microorganismremoval filter 42, the removal rate of the microorganism removal filter42 for a certain type of allergenic particle is enhanced.Conventionally, a fine filter has been adopted for enhancing the dustcollection efficiency, but in such a configuration, the pressure loss ofthe filter may be increased. However, in this embodiment, even when themicroorganism removal filter 42 is not a fine filter, throughapplication of an antibody which reacts with allergenic particles, thetrapping performance for allergenic particles can be ensured. Thus,there is less fear that the pressure loss of the filter is increased.

There is a conventional air cleaning apparatus in which a “dust sensor”and a “pollen sensor” are installed, but dust and pollen are identifiedby the particle size of the measured particle. Accordingly, there arisesa problem of uncertainty about the identifiability, but this embodimentcan solve this problem. Specifically, as a method of measuring theweight of a protein adhered to the antibody, there can be provided amethod for measurement with a SAW method using ultrasonic vibration orthe like, or a method including conducting a current through an adheredprotein and identifying an adhesion amount based on a level of theconducted current.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 16 illustrates a main part of a cleaning filter 40 of an aircleaning apparatus 20 according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 16, the basic configuration of the cleaning filter 40 issubstantially similar to that of the first embodiment. However, unlikethe first embodiment, the adsorbent 57 of the gas removal filter 44 isperiodically replenished and discharged.

In FIG. 16, reference symbol 90 represents an adsorbent replenishingbottle; 91, an on-off valve for the adsorbent replenishing bottle 90;92, an adsorbent discharging bottle; and 93, an on-off valve for theadsorbent discharging bottle 92. The control device 80 periodicallycontrols opening and closing of the on-off valves 91, 93, therebyaccomplishing the replenishment and discharge of the adsorbent 57.

In this embodiment, the adsorbent 57 of the gas removal filter 44 issuitably replaced, thereby extending the lifetime of the gas removalfilter 44.

Fifth Embodiment

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a main part of a cleaning filter 40according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B, the cleaning filter 40 is provided with openingson both sides of a heat-resistant outer holding frame 151. The openingsare provided with, for example, heat-resistant filter elements 152, 153capable of trapping particulate contaminants, such as microbialparticles. The adsorbent 57 capable of trapping gaseous contaminants isfilled to be distributed in the outer holding frame 151 by using theplurality of baffle plates 55.

In this embodiment, a single filter unit can trap both gaseouscontaminants and particulate contaminants.

Sixth Embodiment

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate a main part of an air cleaning apparatusaccording to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 18A, the air cleaning apparatus 20 includes the air duct 21 as acleaning apparatus main body in which the air flow passage 22 is definedand formed. The intake fan 30 and the cleaning filter 40 are disposed inthis air duct 21.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 18B, the cleaning filter 40is removably disposed in the air duct 21, and after being removed fromthe air duct 21, the cleaning filter 40 is supplied with the additive Sfrom a separate-type additive supply device 70 which is disposed as aunit separate from the air cleaning apparatus 20.

Here, in this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 includes a particleremoval filter element and a gas removal filter element.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 18B and FIGS. 19A and 19B,the separate-type additive supply device 70 includes an additive bottle750 for storing a predetermined additive S, and a spray regionrestricting hood 760 for spraying the additive S in this additive bottle750 to the surface of the cleaning filter 40 in a substantiallyrectangular shape.

In this embodiment, the spray region restricting hood 760 includes ahood main body 761 provided with a hollow quadrangular pyramid frameportion 763 formed on one end side of a through rectangular frameportion 762. A spray nozzle 764 is disposed at the center of thequadrangular pyramid frame portion 763 of the hood main body 761. Thisspray nozzle 764 is connected to a tube 766, which is communicated tothe additive bottle 750, via a removable tube connector 765. Therectangular frame portion 762 of the hood main body 761 is provided atits opening edge with a packing 767 for ensuring air-tightness. Therectangular frame portion 762 of the hood main body 761 is provided atits lower portion with an additive recovery pit 768 for recovering anexcess liquid additive S which has not been sprayed on the cleaningfilter 40. Reference symbol 769 represents a ventilation hole formed inthe spray region restricting hood 760. The ventilation hole 769 iseffective for promoting the spray process of the additive S byintroducing an air flow therethrough during the spray process of theadditive S with use of, for example, the intake fan 30 of the aircleaning apparatus 20.

In this embodiment, when the additive S is not sufficiently held in thecleaning filter 40, it is only necessary that the cleaning filter 40 beremoved from the air duct 21, and the additive S be supplied by theseparate-type additive supply device 70.

In this embodiment, now, for example, there are three additive bottles750 (750 a to 750 c). Of the three additive bottles 750, the additivebottle 750 a stores an additive Sa for acid gas, the additive bottle 750b stores an additive Sb for basic gas, and the additive bottle 750 cstores an additive Sc for addressing microorganisms.

One of the right and left halves of the filter surface of the cleaningfilter 40 is, for example, an acid gas treatment surface X, and theother is a basic gas treatment surface Y. The entire filter surface isapplied with the additive Sc for addressing microorganisms.

Then, in this embodiment, the opening of the spray region restrictinghood 760 (corresponding to the opening of the rectangular frame portion762) is formed into a rectangular shape having a size of about ¼ of thatof the filter surface of the cleaning filter 40.

Next, the method of using the separate-type additive supply device 70 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 20.

First, the first additive bottle 750 a is connected to the spray regionrestricting hood 760 via the tube 766 to be communicated to each other.The spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supply device 70is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with the upper half ofthe acid gas processing surface X of the filter surface of the cleaningfilter 40, and the additive Sa for acid gas is sprayed. At this time,the spray shape of the additive Sa from the spray nozzle 764 isgenerally a circular shape, but the additive Sa is sprayed under a statein which the spray region of the additive Sa from the spray nozzle 764is restricted to the range of the rectangular frame portion 762 of thespray region restricting hood 760.

Next, the spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supplydevice 70 is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with thelower half of the acid gas processing surface X of the filter surface ofthe cleaning filter 40, and, similarly, the spray process of theadditive Sa is performed.

After that, the second additive bottle 750 b is connected to the sprayregion restricting hood 760 via the tube 766 so as to be communicated toeach other. The spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supplydevice 70 is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with theupper half of the basic gas processing surface Y of the filter surfaceof the cleaning filter 40, and the additive Sb for basic gas is sprayed.At this time, the additive Sb is sprayed under a state in which thespray region of the additive Sb from the spray nozzle 764 is restrictedto the range of the rectangular frame portion 762 of the spray regionrestricting hood 760.

Next, the spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supplydevice 70 is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with thelower half of the basic gas processing surface Y of the filter surfaceof the cleaning filter 40, and, similarly, the spray process of theadditive Sb is performed.

Finally, the third additive bottle 750 c is connected to the sprayregion restricting hood 760 via the tube 766 to be communicated to eachother. The spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supplydevice 70 is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with theupper half of the acid gas processing surface X of the filter surface ofthe cleaning filter 40, and the additive Sc for addressing microorganismis sprayed. At this time, the additive Sc is sprayed under a state inwhich the spray region of the additive Sc from the spray nozzle 764 isrestricted to the range of the rectangular frame portion 762 of thespray region restricting hood 760.

Next, the spray region restricting hood 760 of the additive supplydevice 70 is disposed via the packing 767 in close contact with thelower half of the acid gas processing surface X, the upper half of thebasic gas processing surface Y, and the lower half of the basic gasprocessing surface Y in the filter surface of the cleaning filter 40, inthis order, and, similarly, the spray process of the additive Sc isperformed.

Under this state, the additive Sa for acid gas is sprayed on the acidgas processing surface X of the cleaning filter 40, the additive Sb forbasic gas is sprayed on the basic gas processing surface Y of thecleaning filter 40, and the additive Sc for addressing microorganisms issprayed on the entire surfaces X and Y.

As described above, the performance of the cleaning filter 40 isrecovered by spraying the additive S thereon. Thus, when the cleaningfilter 40 is placed again in the air duct 21, the cleaning function ofthe cleaning filter 40 of the air cleaning apparatus 20 can besatisfactorily ensured again.

In this embodiment, the additive supply device 70 uses the spray regionrestricting hood 760, but the present invention is not limited thereto.For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21A, a spray nozzle 751 may bedisposed on the additive bottle 750, and a spray region restrictingguide 752 may be additionally disposed on this spray nozzle 751. Thisspray region restricting guide 752 is formed into a hollow quadrangularpyramid shape which widens as the distance from the spray nozzle 751increases so as to restrict the spray region of the additive S sprayedfrom the spray nozzle 751 to a rectangular shape. The spray regionrestricting guide 752 has a function substantially similar to that ofthe spray region restricting hood 760.

In this embodiment, the additive bottles 750 are separately disposed forthe respective additives S, but the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 21B, the inside of a singleadditive container 770 may be divided by a plurality of partitions 771,772 into a plurality of additive chambers 781, 782, 783, whichrespectively store the corresponding additives S (Sa, Sb, Sc). Adivision spray nozzle 788 is communicated to the respective chambers 781to 783 of the additive container 770 via tubes 784 to 786, respectively,which are connected to the division spray nozzle 788 in a dividedmanner. The spray region restricting guide 752 is additionally disposedon this division spray nozzle 788.

In this embodiment, the respective additives S only need to beseparately sprayed by the division spray nozzle 788 on the filtersurface of the cleaning filter 40.

Note that, in this embodiment, the cleaning filter 40 is removed fromthe air duct 21, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Theadditives S may be supplied by the separate-type additive supply device70 on the filter surface of the cleaning filter 40 under a state inwhich the filter surface is exposed outside the air duct 21.

Seventh Embodiment

FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate an example in which an air cleaningapparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention isincorporated into a toilet unit.

In FIGS. 22A and 22B, a toilet unit 300 includes a toilet unit main body301 including a seat portion, a tank 302 disposed behind the toilet unitmain body 301, for storing cleaning water, and an air cleaning apparatus320 disposed behind the above-mentioned toilet unit main body 301 andlaterally adjacent to the above-mentioned tank 302.

In this embodiment, the air cleaning apparatus 320 includes an air duct321 in which an air flow passage 322 is formed therein. An inlet opening323 and an outlet opening 324 of this air duct 321 are respectivelyprovided with louvers. A cleaning filter 340 is removably mounted in themiddle of the air duct 321. An air flow is generated in the air flowpassage 322 by an intake fan 330 disposed in the air duct 322.

In this embodiment, the cleaning filter 340 includes a dust removalfilter for removing dust and the like in the surrounding environmentspace of the toilet unit 300, and a gas removal filter for removing gas,such as odor U generated from human waste 310, odor remaining in thetoilet unit 300, and odor in the surrounding environment space of thetoilet unit. In particular, for example, a gas removal filter having aconfiguration substantially similar to that of the gas removal filter 44of the regeneration cartridge configuration of the first embodiment isused. In view of providing the deodorization effect, the gas removalfilter is preferably configured to collect gas generated from humanexcreta or the like by a trapping material such as active carbon andTenax.

According to this embodiment, when water is saved in the toilet unit300, various kinds of odor including the odor U generated from the humanwaste 310 remain around the toilet unit 300, but the air cleaningapparatus 320 of this embodiment removes the odor around the toilet unit300 by the gas removal filter of the cleaning filter 340.

In this embodiment, the gas removal filter of the cleaning filter 340 isconfigured as a regeneration cartridge, and hence the gas removal filtercan be reused after being regenerated by the filter regeneration device110 similar to that of the first embodiment (for example, the thermaldesorption device 111).

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 23 illustrates an example in which an air cleaning apparatusaccording to an eighth embodiment of the present invention isincorporated into a toilet unit.

In FIG. 23, similarly to the seventh embodiment, the toilet unit 300includes the toilet unit main body 301 including a seat portion, thetank 302 disposed behind the toilet unit main body 301, for storingcleaning water, and an air cleaning apparatus 320 disposed behind theabove-mentioned toilet unit main body 301 and adjacent to a lowerportion of the above-mentioned tank 302.

In this embodiment, the basic configuration of the air cleaningapparatus 320 is substantially similar to that of the seventhembodiment, but, unlike the seventh embodiment, there is additionallyprovided a diagnosis element which enables a plurality of toilet usersto simultaneously take health examinations. Components similar to thoseof the seventh embodiment are represented by similar reference symbols,and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

Here, as the diagnosis element, as illustrated in FIG. 23 and FIGS. 24Aand 24B, a plurality of gaseous substance collecting tubes 350(specifically, 351 to 354) are disposed in the air flow passage 322 ofthe air duct 321. These gaseous substance collecting tubes 350 (351 to354) can be selectively switched via switching valves 361, 362. There isadopted a method in which, through selection of the gaseous substancecollecting tube 350 (for example, 351) corresponding to any one oftoilet users A to D, the odor (gaseous substance) generated from thetoilet user (for example, A) is collected.

As illustrated in FIG. 24A, on the side portion of the toilet unit mainbody 301, a user selection switch 360 for selecting a toilet user isdisposed. When the toilet user operates the above-mentioned userselection switch for identification, the above-mentioned switchingvalves 361, 362 are suitably switched in accordance with an operationsignal from this user selection switch 360.

Moreover, gaseous substances, dusts, and the like, which have passedthrough the gaseous substance collecting tube 350, are effectivelyremoved by the cleaning filter 340 disposed on the downstream side ofthe air flow passage 322.

Note that, the position where the gaseous substance collecting tube 350is disposed is not limited to the air flow passage 322 in the air duct321 as long as the gaseous substances can be collected. A hot water washnozzle, the edge of the toilet unit 300, or a toilet seat portion may besuitably selected.

In this embodiment, similarly to the seventh embodiment, for example,the gas removal filter of the cleaning filter 340 is configured as aregeneration cartridge, and hence the gas removal filter can be reusedthrough a regeneration process by the filter regeneration device 110.For example, collected gas can be separated through a process such asthermal desorption so that active carbon as the trapping material isregenerated. Moreover, desorbed gas can be analyzed so that healthinformation of the toilet user is collected from biological gascontained in human excreta.

In this embodiment, the plurality of gaseous substance trapping tubes350 are disposed as individual cartridges for the respective toiletusers, and hence, as illustrated in FIG. 25B, for example, generatedgaseous substances for the respective toilet users are periodicallycollected by the gaseous substance trapping tubes 350 (351 to 354) asthe individual cartridges, and are precisely analyzed by an analysisdevice, such as a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS), an ionchromatograph (IC), and a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC).Accordingly, a qualitative analysis and a quantitative analysis ofgenerated substances can be performed.

As described above, in this embodiment, based on the analysisinformation, health information related to excretion of the toilet userscan be periodically collected so that differences from others andchanges with time can be revealed and comparison with informationobtained from previous research findings can be performed. With this,the health conditions of the toilet users can also be diagnosed.

For example, it is known that some of the gaseous substances generatedfrom human excreta are related to specific diseases.

ammonia: liver disease

methyl sulfide: hepatic coma

trimethylamine (amines): uremia

acetone (alcohols): type I diabetes mellitus

Therefore, when the amount of a specific gaseous substance is extremelylarge, it is easily predicted that there is a suspicion of a diseaserelated to the specific gaseous substance.

With this, the toilet users can examine and manage their individualhealth.

In this embodiment, the gaseous substance collecting tubes 350 aredisposed for the respective toilet users, but the present invention isnot limited thereto. For example, various types of sensors (for kind andquantity of generated gas, excretion quantity,lightness/chromaticity/chroma, and the like) may be disposed in thetoilet unit 300. Information on the kind and concentration of agenerated substance, excretion quantity, the color of excretion, and thelike, is collected by the various types of sensors in real time, and thecollected data may be used as a health examination material of thetoilet users. For example, in a memory of a control device in the toiletunit 300, the collected information is stored to be recognized withrespect to 1) ID, 2) excretion time, 3) excretion quantity, 4)color-related information, and 5) others, and may be used at the time ofa health examination.

This configuration is preferred in that the health condition over a longperiod of time can be grasped by continuously measuring, with use of thesensors, information on human excreta at the toilet unit.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 26 illustrates a mask as an air cleaning apparatus according to aninth embodiment of the present invention.

Generally, a mask can be considered to be an example of an air cleaningapparatus in a broad sense in terms of the fact that inspired air istaken-in while removing contaminants in the outside air, or expired airis released while removing contaminants therein.

A mask 400 according to this embodiment is configured to take-in cleanedoutside air, and contaminants in expired air are examined so as toenable disease diagnosis. The mask 400 includes a mask main body 401, anattaching fixture 402 for attaching the mask 400, an inspiration filter410 disposed on the mask main body 401 in the vicinity of the nostril,for cleaning inspired air, and an expiration filter 420 disposed on themask main body 401 in the vicinity of the mouth, for cleaning andreleasing expired air.

In this embodiment, the mask main body 401 is formed into a cup shapefor enabling the gap between the face of a user and the mask to benarrowed with high accuracy so that the air tightness with the face isensured.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27A, the inspiration filter 410includes a dust removal filter 411 and a gas removal filter 412 in thisorder from the outside air side, so as to remove contaminants in theoutside air.

In particular, in this embodiment, the gas removal filter 412 isconfigured as a regeneration cartridge holding a trapping material, suchas active carbon.

In order to reduce respiratory load when wearing the mask 400, an intakefan 413 is disposed in the inspired air passage of the inspirationfilter 410. The intake fan 413 is adjusted so that supply air isforcedly introduced in a quantity equal to the respiratory quantity ofthe mask wearer and thus the respiration of the mask wearer becomessubstantially the same as that in a normal state.

On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27B, theexpiration filter 420 includes, from the outside air side of the maskmain body 401, a collecting filter 421 for collecting contaminants inexpired air, a non-woven fabric filter 422 on the inner side of thecollecting filter 421, and a check valve 423 on the inner side of thenon-woven fabric filter 422, for preventing the outside air fromentering.

Here, the collecting filter 421 is made of active carbon, zeolite,silica gel impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), non-wovenfabric, or the like, and configured as a regeneration cartridgeremovably mounted to the mask main body 401.

The non-woven fabric filter 422 is applied with a chemical solution forremoving dust and specific contaminants in advance.

Moreover, the check valve 423 is configured to prevent reverse flow ofoutside air so that the outside air cannot enter the collecting filter421, and thus only the components originated from the exhaling person asthe mask user are collected in the collecting filter 421.

Next, the function of the mask according to this embodiment isdescribed.

According to this embodiment, the mask 400 includes the inspirationfilter 410 (the dust removal filter 411, the gas removal filter 412).Moreover, the check valve 423 is disposed in the portion of thecollecting filter 421 of the expiration filter 420. Accordingly,components in the outside air cannot pass through the collecting filter421 so that components collected in the collecting filter 421 arelimited to those originated from the expired air of the mask user.

Moreover, components in the expired air are widely different among themask users so that the kind and concentration of the components are hardto estimate. Accordingly, it is desired that the mask wearing time belong enough for causing as large an amount of expired air as possible topass through the collecting filter 421 and for trapping contaminants inthe expired air. However, the pressure loss due to the expiration filter420 including the collecting filter 421 for trapping contaminants in theexpired air may impose a burden on the mask user with respect torespiration. Accordingly, it may be impossible to measure contaminantsin the air expired under a normal state. In this regard, this embodimentadopts a forced air intake method in the intake fan 413 so that anexcess burden on the mask user with respect to respiration can beeffectively avoided.

That is, in this embodiment, clean air is sent into the mask 400 by theintake fan 413 disposed in front of the nostril so that the inside ofthe mask 400 is constantly maintained in a positive pressure. With this,the mask user inhales clean air which is constantly supplied into themask 400, and contaminants in the expired air are caused to pass throughthe collecting filter 421 disposed in front of the mouth so as to betrapped therein.

Here, when the contaminants trapped in the collecting filter 421 aregaseous substances, through the regeneration process by the filterregeneration device, for example, the process such as thermal desorptionand solvent extraction, the contaminants are separated from thecollecting filter 421 and analyzed by an analysis device, such as a gaschromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS), a gas chromatograph (GC), ahigh performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC), and an ion chromatograph(IC), so as to perform a qualitative analysis and a quantitativeanalysis.

When the contaminants collected in the collecting filter 421 aremicrobial particles, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, thecontaminants can be separated from the collecting filter 421 by anoperation, such as washing, and identified by solution emission,microscopic observation, or the like.

With this, disease and health information can be obtained from theexpired air of the mask user.

Note that, when the gas removal filter 412 of the inspiration filter 410is regenerated, through an analysis of gaseous contaminants collected bythe gas removal filter 412, information on air pollution in theenvironment where respiration is performed can be obtained.

EXAMPLE Example 1

In this example, the air cleaning apparatus was disposed in anenvironment control-type large chamber (air volume: 4.98 [m³]), and theapparatus performance was obtained by measuring concentrations on theupstream and downstream sides of the air cleaning apparatus. The insideof the chamber was controlled under a fixed environmental condition(temperature: 28±1 [° C], relative humidity: 50±1 [%], ventilationfrequency: 0.03±0.003 [l/h]), and clean air was constantly supplied.

The results are shown in FIG. 28A.

The computational expression of the contaminant removal rate that isused in this case is illustrated in FIG. 28B.

The actually measured value of the concentration in the chamber wassubstituted into the computational expression of the removal rate so asto calculate the removal of formaldehyde by the air cleaning apparatus.As a result, as shown in FIG. 28A, the removal rates of formaldehydewere as follows:

initial value: 77.6 [%]; after first spray: 30.5 [%]; after secondspray: 55.1 [%].

It was found that the formaldehyde removal performance was greatlyrecovered by spraying 1 [g] of a chemical adsorbent. In this apparatus,it is considered that the recoverability is enhanced with furtherincrease of the spray amount.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 . . . air cleaning apparatus, 2 . . . cleaning apparatus main body, 3. . . air flow passage, 4 . . . cleaning filter, 5 . . . particletrapping member, 6 . . . gas trapping member, 7 (7 a to 7 c) . . .trapping material, 8 . . . trapping material holding member, 10 (10 a to10 b) . . . trapping material supply device, 15 . . . filterregeneration device.

1. An air cleaning apparatus, comprising: an air cleaning apparatus mainbody having an air flow passage; a cleaning filter, which is disposed inthe air flow passage of the air cleaning apparatus main body, forcleaning an air passing through the air flow passage; and a healthexamination device, which is disposed in the air flow passage of the aircleaning apparatus main body, for trapping one of gaseous factorsubstances and particulate factor substances emitted one of directly andindirectly from a health examination subject so that the one of thegaseous factor substances and the particulate factor substances are usedfor health examination.
 2. An air cleaning apparatus according to claim1, wherein the health examination device is removably disposed in theair flow passage.
 3. An air cleaning apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the air cleaning apparatus main body is disposed to communicateto a toilet unit on which the health examination subject is to beseated, and wherein the health examination device is disposed in a partof the air flow passage of the air cleaning apparatus main body, whichis located on an upstream side of the cleaning filter in an air flowingdirection, for trapping the gaseous factor substances emitted fromexcretion of the health examination subject.
 4. An air cleaningapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the health examination devicecomprises a plurality of health examination devices for a plurality ofhealth examination subjects, the plurality of health examination devicesbeing selectively switchable via a switching element.
 5. An air cleaningapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the health examination devicecomprises a sensor disposed in the air flow passage of the air cleaningapparatus, the sensor being capable of continuously collectinginformation including information of the gaseous factor substancesemitted from the excretion of the health examination subject.
 6. An aircleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air cleaningapparatus is configured as a mask, wherein the air cleaning apparatuscomprises: a mask main body as the air cleaning apparatus main body; anattaching fixture for attaching the mask main body to the healthexamination subject; an inspiration filter as the cleaning filter, whichis disposed on the mask main body in a vicinity of a nostril, forcleaning an inspired air; and an expiration filter, which is disposed onthe mask main body in a vicinity of a mouth, for cleaning and releasingan expired air, and wherein the expiration filter comprises a collectingfilter capable of collecting factor substances contained in the expiredair, the collecting filter being removably disposed on the mask mainbody so that the collecting filter is used as the health examinationdevice.
 7. An air cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein theexpiration filter comprises: the collecting filter provided on anoutside air side of the mask main body; and a check valve provided on aninner side of the collecting filter, for preventing an outside air fromentering the air cleaning apparatus.
 8. An air cleaning apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the inspiration filter comprises aninspiration fan capable of sucking an air into an inspiration path in aninspiration direction of the air.
 9. A health examination system,comprising: the air cleaning apparatus of claim 1; and an analysisdevice for analyzing, with use of the health examination device of theair cleaning apparatus, factor substances trapped by the healthexamination device.